collapse
verb/kəˈlæps/
/kəˈlæps/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they collapse | /kəˈlæps/ /kəˈlæps/ |
| he / she / it collapses | /kəˈlæpsɪz/ /kəˈlæpsɪz/ |
| past simple collapsed | /kəˈlæpst/ /kəˈlæpst/ |
| past participle collapsed | /kəˈlæpst/ /kəˈlæpst/ |
| -ing form collapsing | /kəˈlæpsɪŋ/ /kəˈlæpsɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to fall down or fall in suddenly, often after breaking apart synonym give way
- The roof collapsed under the weight of snow.
- The building had partially collapsed.
Extra ExamplesTopics Buildingsb2- Several buildings have collapsed into the ocean.
- Timber buildings may simply rot and collapse.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- completely
- into
- under
Definitions on the go
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- [intransitive] to fall down (and usually become unconscious), especially because you are very ill
- She collapsed and was rushed to hospital.
- collapse + adv./prep. The man collapsed in a heap on the floor.
- He collapsed in the street and died two hours later.
- One night he practically collapsed from exhaustion
Extra ExamplesTopics Health problemsb2- He collapsed with shock.
- She collapsed suddenly from a heart attack.
- The man collapsed against the wall and slid down it.
- They finally arrived, collapsing from fatigue.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- suddenly
- immediately
- almost
- …
- against
- from
- with
- …
- collapse in a heap
- [intransitive] (informal) to sit or lie down and relax, especially after working hard
- When I get home I like to collapse on the sofa and listen to music.
- [intransitive] to fail suddenly or completely synonym break down (2)
- Talks between management and unions have collapsed.
- All opposition to the plan has collapsed.
Extra ExamplesTopics Difficulty and failureb2- The home side collapsed spectacularly in the second half.
- The coalition collapsed under the pressure of differences between the two parties.
- His building firm collapsed and he went bankrupt.
- The scheme collapsed in the face of determined opposition.
- The region's economy has virtually collapsed.
- In November the strike finally collapsed.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- eventually
- finally
- quickly
- …
- to collapse in the face of something
- [intransitive] to decrease suddenly in amount or value
- Share prices collapsed after news of poor trading figures.
- She lost a lot of money when the property market collapsed.
- [intransitive, transitive] collapse (something) to fold something into a shape that uses less space; to be able to be folded in this way synonym fold
- The table collapses for easy storage.
- [intransitive, transitive] collapse (something) if a lung or blood vessel collapses or is collapsed, it falls in and becomes flat and emptyTopics Health problemsc2
of building
of sick person
relax
fail
of prices/currencies
fold
medical
Word Originearly 17th cent. (as collapsed): from medical Latin collapsus, past participle of collabi, from col- ‘together’ + labi ‘to slip’.
Check pronunciation:
collapse